Banana Oat Bars

Ingredients and Weight:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 1/2 cups)

Preparation Time:

15 minutes

Cooking Time:

25-30 minutes

Difficulty Level:

1 (Simple)

Preparation Method Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking pan.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together melted butter, egg, and vanilla extract. Stir in mashed bananas.
4. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
5. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
6. Let cool completely before cutting into bars.

Nutritional Information (Per Bar):

• Calories: 250
• Fat: 9g
• Saturated Fat: 5g
• Cholesterol: 30mg
• Sodium: 130mg
• Carbohydrates: 40g
• Fiber: 3g
• Sugar: 15g
• Protein: 4g

Dish Characteristics:

• Soft and chewy
• Sweet but not overly sugary
• Banana flavor is prominent but not overpowering
• Can be served for breakfast, snack, or dessert

User Comments:

• "These bars are the perfect balance of sweet and healthy. I love the chewy texture and the banana flavor is delicious."
• "I made these bars for my kids and they loved them! They're a great way to get them to eat some fruit."
• "I've made these bars several times and they're always a hit. They're so easy to make and they're always delicious."

Special Precautions and Tips:

• If you don't have old-fashioned rolled oats, you can use quick oats instead.
• You can add chopped walnuts or pecans to the batter for extra texture and flavor.
• If you want a sweeter bar, you can add an extra 1/4 cup of brown sugar to the batter.